Best Campgrounds near Belen, NM

The Belen, New Mexico camping landscape includes established RV parks and campgrounds spread throughout the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding mesas. La Vista RV Park offers full hookup sites within city limits, while Plateau Hame de Colquhoun provides more remote tent and RV camping on a mesa with panoramic views. Several properties in the region cater primarily to RV travelers, though tent sites are available at select locations. The area between Belen and Albuquerque contains multiple camping options ranging from basic overnight facilities to more developed parks with amenities like showers, laundry facilities, and water hookups.

Full hookup sites dominate the camping options near Belen, with numerous RV parks providing electric, water, and sewer connections. According to one visitor at Plateau Hame de Colquhoun, "The Mesa is untamed land so you do want to bring the essentials you need. You will have the best experience here if you are self-sufficient." Access to more remote sites may require careful navigation on unpaved roads, with visitors noting travel times of up to an hour from interstate exits to reach certain campgrounds. Train noise affects some camping areas, particularly at Isleta Lakes & RV Park where the railroad proximity is frequently mentioned in reviews. Summer temperatures can be extreme, making spring and fall the most comfortable seasons for tent camping, while RV sites with hookups allow for air conditioning during hot months.

Campers consistently mention the scenic desert vistas as a highlight of staying in the Belen area. The landscape offers unobstructed views of mountains, mesas, and open skies ideal for stargazing. At Isleta Lakes & RV Park, visitors appreciate the fishing opportunities and lakeside walking trails. A reviewer noted, "Our site was clean, easy and spacious. We were right up by the lake which seemed man made but was still peaceful." Many campgrounds feature covered picnic areas to provide shade relief. While natural features like lakes enhance some properties, the region's camping experience is defined more by vast open spaces and distant mountain views than by dense forests or abundant water features. Cell service is surprisingly good at most locations, even at more remote sites.

Best Camping Sites Near Belen, New Mexico (71)

    1. La Vista RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Belen, NM
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 966-6585

    "We stayed at La Vista for one night on our way through New Mexico heading to Utah. The owners are extremely friendly and were very helpful."

    2. Isleta Lakes & RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Bosque Farms, NM
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 724-3800

    $38 - $50 / night

    "Staying at Isleta Lakes has convenient access to the city of Albuquerque while staying a bit more secluded. The lakes provide a nice walking trail and the staff are helpful."

    "We live in Albuquerque and wanted to try something close to home. This was a nice park located next to a lake that can be fished with a license."

    3. Albuquerque KOA Journey

    47 Reviews
    Monticello, NM
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 296-2729

    "New Mexico is a land of wonders and beauty in every turn."

    "Good campground with access to all Albuquerque has to offer. Quick biking to the Sandia trails and short drive to hiking. The bus stop is nearby so getting around town is easy too."

    4. Plateau Hame de Colquhoun

    1 Review
    Belen, NM
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (320) 874-0826

    $12 - $20 / night

    "It took us almost an hour after taking exit 191 off I-25 to reach the camp. We have a towed car with very low clearence so we were going really slow."

    5. Route 66 RV Resort

    20 Reviews
    Albuquerque, NM
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 352-8000

    $45 - $60 / night

    "Clean, paved drives and concrete pull through diagonal sites with full hook ups. Gated control entrance. Good Wi-Fi."

    "We live in Albuquerque, and it was the middle of the early Coronavirus lockdown, but were looking to just get away from the house and still be away from people."

    6. Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post

    21 Reviews
    Albuquerque, NM
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 831-6317

    $30 - $37 / night

    "It was off the highway by 7 miles but easy to get back on in the morning. There were a number of fun nostalgic things to walk and look at."

    "Love the ease of entry off the highway. Sites are full hookup and easy to navigate for big rigs. Lots of RV repair companies all around the park. Pool and hot tub are AMAZING!"

    7. Manzano Mountains State Park Campground

    16 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 469-7608

    $15 - $90 / night

    "Behind our site there’s a horseshoe area and group site not too far after."

    "Well off the beaten path, but worth a few nights of peace and solitude. Went in July and the weather was cool in the 80's most of the time, cooling to the upper 40's at night."

    8. Red Canyon Campground

    8 Reviews
    Mountainair, NM
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 847-2990

    "Nice kid-friendly trails adjacent to the campground. We had a nice shady site, some others seemed more exposed."

    "However, though there are bathrooms at the location, they are really smelly and flies surround them."

    9. High Desert RV Park

    15 Reviews
    Albuquerque, NM
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (505) 839-9035

    $40 - $44 / night

    "Nice RV Park that is close to town. The highway is nearby so very loud out all night. They also had water pressure issues well we stayed around 20 PSI. Site was all red dirt but fairly level."

    "The metal art work around this place was incredible. The whole park was just really nice and clean. They have an area where you can vaccume your vehicle out. Clean showers and bathrooms.."

    10. American RV Resort

    14 Reviews
    Albuquerque, NM
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 282-8885

    $50 / night

    "We only did an overnight and it's 20 minutes away from the Peroglyp's national monument. Close to the gas station too. Campground site is pretty clean and best of all we saw a bunch of rabbits."

    "Freeway noise and sites right next to each other were the negatives. However for a night it worked out just fine."

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Recent Reviews near Belen, NM

438 Reviews of 71 Belen Campgrounds


  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Can’t Reach Site

    Spent a while driving around trying to find a dirt road to reach the site. Everything was blocked off by the neighbors who were of no help and just kept saying it was private property

  • Krista S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Dancing Eagle RV Park

    Great spot

    Self serv pay is great and love that it’s $18!

  • FThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    The Box Recreation Area

    Dispersed Camping Box Recreation Area

    A short drive off of US 380 a few miles west of Socorro NM. Several flat areas with toom for multiple vehicles and tents.

  • Stacia M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 9, 2025

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Great experience 10/10

    Amazing experience! Definitely a tight squeeze for my rv but definitely worth it. Don’t listen to anyone that it’s “closed.” You just have to listen to the description and not take the private roads!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Coronado Campground

    Excellent city run RV park

    This RV park is popular and can be filled. So try to get a reservation before you arrive. I managed to get a spot because somebody had canceled. Campsites have power and some have water. I paid $35 a night. But they do have an overflow area which is just a big parking lot but will serve in a pinch if there are no regular spaces available.

  • Kiran B.
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Placitas BLM

    BLM Land Placitas NM

    Just 10 miles north of Albuquerque by the Sandias. Open space for dispersed camping with views of the mountains. Lots of flat open places. Don't need 4x4 but a little clearance helps with the rocks and ruts.

  • A
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Coronado Campground

    Convenient and well appointed

    Remarkable nice little campground, with well laid-out sites, each with its own adobe picnic shelter as well as power and water. There’s a dump station at the exit. The location is very convenient, though there’s a bit of highway noise.

  • Kevin K.
    Sep. 25, 2025

    Albuquerque KOA Journey

    Very nice KOA

    This KOA has a lot of pull thru sites and they have decent space sizes. Each site has a small picnic table and there are some sites with pet pens. The laundry is open 24 hours and was clean.

  • Steve M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Top of New Mexico - Dispersed Site

    Access illegally closed off by Neighbors

    No way to get to BLM land now because the neighbors put up a gate with locks on it and blocked off their driveway so you can't go around it


Guide to Belen

Camping spots near Belen, New Mexico range from full-service RV parks to more remote mesa sites at elevations between 4,800 and 7,000 feet. The region experiences dramatic temperature swings, with summer days reaching 90°F and winter nights dropping below freezing. Cell service remains surprisingly strong throughout most camping areas, even at more isolated locations like Plateau Hame de Colquhoun where visitors report "Verizon cellphone signal was surprisingly good in this area."

What to do

Hike mountain trails: Manzano Mountains State Park Campground offers easy access to hiking paths through ponderosa pines. A visitor noted, "Nice hiking (easy) trails. Flush toilets but no showers. Dump station. Very nice facility." The park provides a cooler escape from summer heat with temperatures typically 15-20 degrees lower than Belen.

Fish stocked lakes: Isleta Lakes & RV Park provides fishing opportunities just 30 minutes from Belen. According to one camper, "Fishing License can be purchased in campground store. Plenty of space from neighbors on our corner lot. Loved the patio area we had as well." The lake is regularly stocked with catfish.

Explore local ruins: Several campgrounds serve as bases for exploring historical sites. One camper at Manzano Mountains State Park Campground commented, "Great place near ruins and plenty of trails to walk dogs. Most of the sites are very private. Quiet. Clean."

What campers like

Desert stargazing: The Belen area's clear skies and minimal light pollution create excellent stargazing conditions. At Red Canyon Campground, a camper reported, "We had a great night with a campfire and a good view of the stars and moon."

Mountain climate: Higher elevation campgrounds offer relief from valley heat. A visitor to Manzano Mountains State Park stated, "Went in July and the weather was cool in the 80's most of the time, cooling to the upper 40's at night. Isolated at the end of a road in the edge of the Monzano Mountains, it is fully treed with great shade."

Wildlife encounters: The natural setting attracts diverse wildlife. A camper at Red Canyon Campground shared, "Very green and lush with deer visiting our site at dusk!" This provides nature observation opportunities for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.

What you should know

Road access challenges: Some campgrounds require careful navigation on unpaved roads. At Plateau Hame de Colquhoun, a visitor advised, "Be sure to follow their detailed directions, and allow plenty of time to get there before sunset. It took us almost an hour after taking exit 191 off I-25 to reach the camp."

Site cleanliness varies: Some remote sites experience maintenance issues during busy periods. One Red Canyon camper warned, "The site itself is in a really nice area with lots of pine trees and direct trail access. The only issue is it seems a lot of people who come here don't know camp etiquette and leave the sites completely trashed."

Limited amenities: Many sites lack full services. A visitor to La Vista RV Park noted, "Everything is great about this little site, only drawbacks are no facilities, and no shade." Bring appropriate supplies based on each campground's available amenities.

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with recreation options: Albuquerque KOA Journey offers family-friendly amenities about 35 minutes from Belen. A camper shared, "They have a playground hot tub and a bounce pad for the kids. It was safe and quiet we will definitely stay again."

Consider noise factors: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds. One family at Albuquerque KOA Journey reported, "EVERY review will tell you about the noise from highway, and it is no joke!! We were so tired we did not care. But it is BAD!"

Look for shade: Summer temperatures make shade essential for comfortable family camping. A visitor to Enchanted Trails RV Park noted, "The sites were close together and appeared to have a number of long term residents. It was quiet and well marked out."

Tips from RVers

Water pressure awareness: Route 66 RV Resort requires equipment precautions. An RVer warned, "We were told that the water pressure was about 90 psi and it was, so use a reducer. The sites throughout this campground are nicely spaced, well groomed and level."

Level site options: Finding level parking varies by campground. At American RV Resort, a camper noted, "The pull-through sites are easily assessable and long enough for an F250 w/30' travel trailer and not be detached. The park is clean and quaint."

Self-sufficiency requirements: Remote camping requires preparation. A visitor at Plateau Hame de Colquhoun advised, "The Mesa is untamed land so you do want to bring the essentials you need. You will have the best experience here if you are self-sufficient."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Belen, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, Belen, NM offers a wide range of camping options, with 71 campgrounds and RV parks near Belen, NM and 11 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Belen, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Belen, NM is La Vista RV Park with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Belen, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 11 free dispersed camping spots near Belen, NM.

What parks are near Belen, NM?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Belen, NM that allow camping, notably Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands and Cibola National Forest and Grasslands.